You probably have heard of Amr Maskoun, a hilarious Syrian YouTuber/Comedian.
Now, while he’s no doubt really funny, his videos are not the easiest to comprehend for non-natives.
So in this post, I will share four of my favourite clips. They are all around a minute long.
And there are tons of Syrian slang phrases that you can learn from them.
Some of the phrases are quite unkind and harsh…but if you’re learning a spoken language, you got to learn all of them, eh? Both the good and the bad.
Ready? Let’s go!
Video #1
واللهِ يا صديقي, ما عم لاقي الموصفات اللي بدي اياها ببنت الحلال
I swear, my friend…I can’t seem to find the specifications that I want in my (future) wife
يعني واللهِ طلباتي مو صعبة
I mean, I swear..my requests aren’t difficult
بدي اياها تكون مثقفة, محبة للقراءة والمطالعة
I want her to be cultured and to love reading
(قراءة and مطالعة are synonyms)
وهيك شعراتا يكونو قصار
and her hair to be short
وبحبا تكون محتشمة شوي
and I would like her to be somewhat modest
معلم, وضحكتا بتكون رنانة
her laughter to be rich and vibrant
اي بس موعالية…وما بحبا تحط مكياج
but not loud…and I don’t like her to put on makeup
وتكون طباخة ماهرة
and she has to be a great/skilled cook
واخيرا تحب امي وتساعدا لانو بدي ساكنة معنا بنفس البيت
and finally, she has to love my mother and help her because I want her to stay with us in the same house
عن اذنك بس هي مطربان وكيس ملح
Excuse me, but here are a glass jar and a bag of salt
اعطيون لامك وخليها تكبسك مخلل عندا وتكترو للملح
give them to your mother, let her press you down like how she would when making pickles, and get her to increase the amount of salt
*كبس is the verb to press/push down. The verb is also used to describe the way of preparing pickles
!تضرب انت وفتاة أحلامك
To hell with you and your dream girl!
Notes:
تضرب انت/ tudrub enta
This phrase is the English equivalent to ‘damn you’ or ‘to hell with you’ or ‘screw you’…you get the point.
بنت الحلال/ bint elhalal
‘Bint’ means a girl or a daughter. While ‘halal’ means something that is permissible or allowed.
Thus the phrase refers to a woman that you’re allowed to marry.
Depending on the context, the phrase can refer to a wife or a good/respectable woman. And in the video, it’s obvious that Amr is referring to a future wife when he said بنت الحلال
Palestinian Youtube, Maha, talks about this in her recent video which you can check out here (expression no. 6 starting from 06:45).
A glass of jar & a bag of salt
What do a glass of jar and a bag of salt got to do with anything, right?
The process of preserving pickles in a jar involves the squeezing or pressing the pickles, and adding salt to it.
Thus, when the girl told the guy that he should get his mother to put him in the jar, press him down, and add lots of salt…
in a way, she is telling the guy to be “preserved in a jar” (i.e stay in there, don’t come out) because he will never get his dream girl due to his unreasonable requests.
Furthermore, by asking his mother to increase the amount of salt, she hopes for the guy to “remain in the jar” for as long as possible (based on the assumption that the more salt you add, the longer the pickles get preserved).
EXTRA
So I started my language journey with Jordanian Arabic. I then started to expose myself to Syrian Arabic through watching drama series and having Syrian conversation partners.
And there is one thing that I notice about Syrian (and Lebanese) Arabic that differs from Jordanian and Palestinian Arabic.
The ه in the ها (that is attached to the back of a word) is often not pronounced.
So for example,
Instead of بحبها (baheb-ha), it becomes بحبا (baheb-ba).
Instead of هي عندها (hiye 3ind-ha), it becomes هي عندا (hiye 3ind-da)
Instead of اولادها (uulad-ha), it becomes اولادا (uulad-da)
Video #2
شو بكي, ليش قاعدة هيك ما عم تعملي شي؟
What’s wrong? Why are you sitting and not doing anything?
مو جاي عبالي عاملة شي
I don’t feel like doing anything
طيب انا عندي شغلة نتسلى فيا نحنا تنتين. استني علي شوي
Okay, I got something that will entertain us both. Wait awhile
هاي كريم كرامل. اذا تاكلي اسرع مني, باخدك على مول واشتري شو ما بدك. رصيد مفتوح,الكرت كلواستخدميه
This is a Creme Caramel. If you eat it faster than me, I will take you to the mall and buy whatever you want. The account [credit] is open, the card is all yours to use
ليه كمان تمسخري علي وخدني على قد عقلي, كتير صدقتك
You’re mocking me? Are you saying that just to please me? Yea, I really do believe you
لحظة. قلتي رح تشتريلي شو ما بدي؟
Wait [a moment], you said that you will buy for me whatever I want?
شو ما بدك
Whatever you want
ليكي وعدتيني ها انو اي شي بطلبه
Promise me that (you’ll buy) anything that I ask for
والله شو ما بدك بس اطلبي وتمني
I swear, whatever you want. Just ask and wish for it!
!اي شي؟
Anything?!
اي شو ما بدك. خلصينا
Yes, whatever you want! Stop it (Stop asking)!
على مهلك, سريعة كتير انعمى في طينك انشالله
Slow down (take your time), holy crap, you’re fast
بس انا اسرع
I’m faster
…عنجد ماما ؟! خلص
Really Mama? That’s it…
Notes:
مو جاي عبالي/ muu jey 3a bali
The phrase is said when you don’t feel like doing something.
The literal meaning is “[it] is not coming to my mind”.
For example,
مو جاي عبالي شوف حدا
muu jey/jai 3a bali shuuf Hada
I don’t feel like seeing anyone
Similarly, if you want to say that you feel like doing something, then simply remove the مو from the phrase.
I’ve elaborated on this phrase in this post here
3ala mahlak/على مهلك
Depending on the context, the phrase can mean ‘slow down’ or ‘take your time’.
I’ve elaborated more about it in this post here.
انعمى في طينك/in3ama fii Thinak
The phrase literally means “blindness in your clay”.
But it is used as a vulgar expression to indicate amazement or shock – similar to how phrases like “holy cow”, “holy sh*t” and “holy crap” are used in the English language.
Note that the word, طينك, is used as a replacement to the actual intended word of دينك (your religion). Since to curse one’s religion is considered blasphemous, people replace the word, دينك, to طينك (clay/muck from the ground).
Instead of saying دينك, some also use the word, ديبك, which mean “your wolf”. So for instance, instead of cursing someone يلعن دينك, one would say يلعن ديبك.
Thus, طينك, and ديبك are just words to replace دينك in order to lessen the harshness of the vulgarity. But all of these are considered harsh – so it’s good to know them but don’t use them unless to close friends etc.
اطلبي وتمني/utlubi uu tmanii
The phrase literally means “ask/request and hope”.
And it is a polite and hospitable expression that is said to loved ones when they ask for help or a favour.
It’s like saying “I’m at your disposal”, “I’m at your service” or even to the extent of saying “your wish is my command”.
For example:
ممكن اطلب منك طلب؟ :A
mumkin atlub minak Talab?
Can I ask you for a favour [request]?
شو ما بدك, اطلبي وتمني :B
sho ma bedak, utlubii uu tmanii
whatever is it you want, just say it and I’ll attend to it
[i.e I’ll gladly do whatever you ask of me. Just tell me what is it you want]
خدني على قد عقلي/khudni 3ala 2ad 3a2li
The phrase literally means “take me as the size of my mind/brain”.
And the expression can be used in a variety of situations.
But in general:
to take someone as the size of his/her mind = to regard the person’s way of thinking as limited and simplistic
In addition, when you attempt to please person A to avoid any unnecessary fuss (for example, by agreeing with what A said or to give compliments without actually meaning it), people will regard you as taking person A as the size of his/her mind.
Because by doing things for the sake of pleasing someone so that any fuss is avoided, you’re being insincere and regarding the person as “simple” and easy to fool.
That is why in the video, the daughter was annoyed at the mother and (rhetorically) asked her “Are you taking me as the size of my mind?”. In other words, the daughter is telling the mother that “Are you simply saying that to please me?”.
This is so hard to explain but I hope you get what I mean! If not, the examples below will make things clearer.
First example:
A child comes along and expresses his opinions on a certain matter. The adults listen but do not take the child’s opinions seriously because they consider the child according to the size of his mind.
So in this context, one of the adults may say to the others:
خده على قد عقله
khudo 3ala 2ad 3a2lo
Thus, effectively telling the rest that “let him say what he wants, but don’t take him seriously because he’s still young and is limited in his perspective”.
Second example:
The phrase can also be said as an acknowledgment that one is not as intelligent as the other or as not well-informed regarding a topic.
For example, imagine you’re having a discussion or a debate with Ali.
You don’t agree with the points that Ali is saying and you can’t seem to understand the logic behind them.
But Ali is so insistent that he is right so you tell him:
خدني على قد عقلي وقلي (قولي) كيف
khudni 3ala 2a3li uu 2elli (2uuli) kif
Literal meaning: Take me as the size of my mind and tell me how
خدني على قد عقلي وفهمني كيف
khudni 3ala 3ad 2a3li uu fahemni kif
Literal meaning: Take me as the size of my mind and make me understand how
By saying this, you are effectively telling Ali that “I don’t think the same way you do, so why don’t you explain to me and convince me”.
Third example:
Take a look at this conversation between a man and his fiancee:
مو ملاحظ فيني شي مغير؟ :Woman
muu mlahez finii shii mghayir?
Don’t you notice anything different about me?
متل شو؟ :Man
mitl shu?
Like what?
قصيت شعري :Woman
2aseyt sha3rii
I cut my hair/ I got a haircut
اه طيب,نعيما ,حلوعليكي :Man
Ah taiyeb, na3eeman, helu 3alayki
Ah okay, na3eeman, it looks good on you
*نعيما is an expression/blessing to say to others who just got out of a shower/had a haircut/had a clean shave
ايوا خدني على قد عقلي :Woman
aiwaaa, khudni 3ala 2ad 3a2li
So the woman is annoyed that the man did not notice that she had a haircut. The woman gets even more annoyed that the man simply said some nice words to please her.
So the woman tells the man something along the lines of “Yeah great, you’re just saying that to please me”.
So just remember, some expressions in a spoken language really depend on the context to figure out the right meaning and especially so when sarcasm is involved.
Video #3
احكيلك شي؟
Shall I tell you something?
لا
No
ولك بلا زناخة رح احكيلك بس ما بتقول لحدا خصوصاً ل ماما
Don’t be silly, I will tell you but don’t tell anyone especially Mama
ايه احكي, خلصيني
Let’s get this over with. Tell me.
عملت تاتو
I got myself a tattoo
شو هاد؟ صرصور؟
What’s that? A cockroach?
ولك فراشة ,لا تحكي ل ماما ها
No, a butterfly. Don’t tell Mama!
ولك حل عني ما رح احكي. ولا قلك, يمكن احكي
Go away from me, I won’t tell anyone…Or you know what? Maybe I’ll tell
نظفيلي كندرتي وطبقيلي خزانتي
clean my shoes and tidy up my wardrobe
ماشي, ماشي
Fine, alright
تفضل
Here you go
خلص, هلأ ما احكي
That’s it. Now, I won’t tell
ONE HOUR LATER
سوزان حبيبتي، مو انا امك و رفيقتك و اختك؟
Susan dear, am I not your mother, your friend, and your sister?
ايه, مبلا
Yes, of course
في شي بدك تخبريني عنو؟
Is there something you want to inform me about?
لا,شي متل شو يعني؟
No, something like what?
يعني متل التاتو اللي حكالي عنو اخوكي
Like the tattoo that your brother told me about
ورجيني ياه لشوف
Show it to me, let me see
يلعن امك على ابوكي
May God curse your mother and your father
ليكو
Here it is
صرصور؟؟؟
A cockroach?!!
!ولك فراشة
It’s a butterfly!
شوفي لك نزل ضغطي ها …هاد بيروح مؤقت يعني ؟
Look, my blood pressure went down (because of you)…it (the tattoo) goes away, it’s temporary, right?
تاتو لا. ..ما بيروح
Tattoo…no. It doesn’t go away
شو رايك اعملك كام واحد متلو في ارجاء جسمك الفسيحة وغيرلك ديكور وشك؟
What do you think if I make a few “tattoos” similar to yours all over your body and change the “decoration” of your face?
يا رب يا رب بس خليني ارجع شوف بعيني واميّز الالوان يا رب… يا رب
Oh God, just allow me to see with my eyes again and to be able to differentiate colours…Oh God…
Notes:
بلا زناخة/bala zanaa5a
The word زناخة refers to “silliness”. The word بلا means “without” or when put in contexts, it means “don’t be”.
So put both of them together, you’ll get “without silliness”. In other words, don’t be silly or stop being silly!
حل عني/ hail 3ani
The phrase is said to rudely shoo someone away, like ‘get away from me’ or ‘get lost’.
This phrase is one of the many common phrases to tell someone to get lost. And I have written a post about it – check it out here to know the rest!
مبلا/mbala
The word مبلا is usually said to negate a negative question.
For example,
ما بدك تاكل شاورما؟ :A
You don’t want to eat Shawarma?
مبلا اكيد :B
No, of course I do (want to eat Shawarma)
ليكو/leyko
The word ليكو is a call to attention – like “look at this!” or “look, here it is”.
ليكو is used if the thing that you’re pointing out is masculine in noun.
And if you’re referring to things that are feminine in noun, then the word ليكا (leyka) is used.
Video #4
آلو يا حبيبتي هلأ نحنا قرر منروح على المزرعة
Hi dear, we just decided to go to the farm*
ونسيت اسالك, انتي بتعرفي تسبحي مو؟
and I forgot to ask you, you know how to swim, right?
لأ ما بعرف
No, I don’t know
عم تمزحي؟! يعني كلب احسن منك؟
You’re joking?! You mean a dog is better than you?
حبيبي انت بتعرف تسبح؟
Darling, do you know how to swim?
اكيد طبعا
Sure, of course
يعني متلك متل الكلب
which means you’re exactly like a dog
انقصف قصف
Burrrn!
Notes:
انقصف قصف/ inqasef qasef
OK, so I wrote burn to translate انقصف قصف
But that’s only because it’s the best equivalent English slang phrase I can think of.
The phrase انقصف قصف does not mean “burn”. At least not in the literal sense. 🙂
قصف refers to shellings or bombings. And انقصف is the verb to be shelled/to be bombed.
Thus, the literal meaning is sort of like “the shell [the artillery shell used in warfare] got shelled” or “the bomb got bombed”.
So انقصف قصف is said as an exclamatory response to a humiliating insult where a comeback or a rebuttal is almost impossible.
It’s like when someone tried to be funny and made fun of you, but you came up with a comeback/response that’s 10 times better to the extent that the person is stunned and at a loss for words.
So it’s like “Ha! In your face!”/ “Ha! In his face!” or “You got burned!”/”He got burned!”…get it? I hope so. 🙂
مزرعة/ mazra2a
And although Amr said مزرعة in the video, he was not actually referring to a “farm” where there are cows, goats, horses…
I mean…that’s what comes to mind when I hear the word “farm”. So I was confused and decided to ask a Syrian friend.
Turns out the word مزرعة refers to a place that has a swimming pool and is surrounded by greenery. It’s where people like to go for a retreat, for a picnic or for a gathering with family members and friends. I suppose it’s like a chalet.
~~~
Think he’s hilarious? Check out Amr Maskoun’s Facebook Page here
That’s it, folks. It’s a long post but I hope you get to expand your vocabulary and gain insights into the language.
Which is your favourite video? Let me know in the comment section below!
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